8 Ways to Use That Cajun Seasoning without Saying BAM!

Summer maybe over, but across the country its heat remains. Our favorite way to hold onto summer is with the spicy crawfish boils of the season. They’re messy outdoor affairs that bring people together to sit in the shade, drink beer, and chow down for hours on seafood and corn and potatoes. If you did it right, you made your own blend of Cajun seasoning because the flavor is infinitely better when freshly ground instead of a premade mix that’s been sitting in a tin on the back of your shelf for years.

And now that you have this aromatic spice blend, what to do with the leftovers? Rather than let it languish and get stale, we’ve put together a round-up of recipes to use it up and hold on to those late summer flavors and memories.

1. Cajun Seasoning Blend

If for some reason you haven’t made yourself a batch of this, here’s the link. In as much time as it takes to read this article, you can have a fresh container of this spicy, bright combination of flavors. You just have to promise not to say “BAM.” Ever. Get our Cajun Seasoning Blend recipe.

2. Charred Green Beans with Cajun Dipping Sauce

Fire roasting green beans bring an extra level of smokey goodness to this dish. Keeping summer alive doesn’t get easier than this. Not to mention the addictive dipping sauce is the perfect way to use that Cajun blend. Get our Charred Green Beans with Cajun Dipping Sauce recipe.

3. Butter Cajun Popcorn

Taste of Home

Double it. Trust us, just make twice as much as you think you’ll need. Cajun popcorn is pretty much snack nirvana, and you’ll want bowl after bowl of this as your favorite Fall shows return. Pairs well with finding out what Carrie Mathison is doing and how deep that conspiracy runs. Get the recipe here.

4. Maque Choux

CHOW

The summer side you’ve never had, maque choux is essentially Cajun succotash. Every cook has their own perfect recipe, but a few big pinches of that seasoning make all those picnic corn salads you had taste like cardboard. This southern Louisiana specialty deserves wider recognition as the ideal vehicle for the flavors of summer. Get our Maque Choux recipe.

5. Spicy Cajun Salmon Sandwiches

The Cozy Apron

Using your Cajun seasoning as a rub for fish is a great way to use up a larger quantity of the spice. Broiling the salmon keeps it moist inside, and the lemon aioli adds a cooling element to counteract the spice of the fish. These sandwiches will quickly become a part of your weeknight dinner rotation. Get the recipe here.

6. Wild Rice Jambalaya

CHOW

Dishes like this are why you made that Cajun blend in the first place. Classic jambalaya keeps incredibly well in the freezer, so stock up now or make some for anyone you know with a baby on the way! Get our Wild Rice Jambalaya recipe.

7. Baked Honey Cajun Shrimp

Natasha's Kitchen

Honey, soy sauce, and your seasoning magic! Just three ingredients come together to transform shrimp into a late summer explosion of flavor that’s versatile enough to eat with quinoa or a salad or just standing over the stove and licking your fingers. Get the recipe here.

8. Shrimp Etouffee

Grand Baby Cakes

The ultimate use for your Cajun seasoning is this shrimp etouffee. It was destined for this. There is no nobler cause than this historic recipe. In fact, you might start looking up plane tickets and real estate in NOLA after this one. You’ve been warned. Get the recipe here.